Deteriorated Schools: Put More Options on the Table

In the space of only a few days, a consensus has formed in Frankfort that it is time to do something about the "deteriorated" schools in Kentucky. This of course is a welcome development because (as we have been discussing for some time now) better schools = better students.

The non-profit agency, 21st Century School Fund reports that  "research has confirmed what many educators have held as common sense – the quality of a school facility has an impact on students experiences and ultimately on their educational achievement.” Conversely “poor building conditions…are obstacles to academic achievement. (Further) if school facilities are unsafe, unhealthy and unable to support technology for the delivery of curriculum or services needed to succeed, minority and low-income children are further disadvantaged.”

According to Speaker Stumbo's presentation yesterday, the resource requirement to fund the bond issue to fix the deteriorated schools in Kentucky (as well as invest in the other educational projects included in the plan) is $116 million annually for the next 20 years. Bonds are an appropriate and fiscally responsible means to invest in long-term infrastructure development - so long as the resources are identified to meet the debt service (as opposed to new bonds being added to the state's existing debt capacity - which is likely at or near its outer limit).

The question the Coalition would like to pose is - given that we are recognizing as a state that we must invest in these schools so that we can help our children reach their full potential - what are some other options to meet this challenge? It is unclear that expanded gaming will pass this session and even less clear that, if it does, the enhanced revenues will be directed toward school construction. 

So - what are some other ideas? What other options can be put on  the table? A simple one would be a tighter belt in the other areas of state government. We're told that a 2.6% reduction in agency budgets (while sparing SEEK, Medicaid, Corrections, etc) will save taxpayers about $200 million. Therefore, does it follow that an additional 1% reduction in agency budgets dedicated toward debt service for fixing Kentucky's deteriorated schools gets us close to the $116 million in Stumbo's proposal?

We'd like to know the answer to that. The way to get to that answer is for the debate to broaden and the focus on fixing this problem include more options on the table.